Following UFC 128 loss, Ricardo Almeida retires from MMA competition

At 34 years old, Ricardo Almedia (13-5 MMA, 6-5 UFC) is ready to call it a career.

The Brazilian jiu-jitsu ace on Wednesday night posted a statement on his official website declaring his intentions.

“MMA is a great sport but also physically and mentally unforgiving,” Almeida stated. “It is a dangerous task to step in the octagon, especially if your focus is not at 100 percent. After much deliberation since my fight at UFC 128, I have decided to step away from the sport as a fighter.”

Almeida made his professional debut in December 2000 with a decision win over Akira Shoji under the PRIDE banner. Almeida then made his way to the UFC for a three-fight stint that saw him post a win over Eugene Jackson sandwiched between losses to Andrei Semenov and Matt Lindland. Almeida then departed for Japan where he fought five times in Pancrase, as well as once more for PRIDE.

Following a near-four-year layoff from competition between 2004 and 2008, Almeida returned to the UFC in February 2008. Almeida won four of his first five fights in his second octagon run, and he dropped down from middleweight to welterweight during the process. However, since a March 2010 win over Matt Brown, Almeida has gone just 1-2 in three outings and is now ready to walk away from the competition side of the sport.

“Back in 2008, I decided to return to MMA” Almeida stated. “Since then, I have had the privilege of fighting eight times in the UFC. As a competitor I can think of no bigger thrill than to stand in the center of the octagon with my hands raised.

“During these almost four years, it has been a personal struggle to find balance between my fighting career, caring for my son, who was diagnosed with autism soon after I signed a six-fight deal with the UFC, teaching at my growing jiu-jitsu academy and the family duties we all have.

“I will continue to fully support the UFC as a coach and of course as a big fan. I would like to thank Lorenzo Fertitta and Dana White for their leadership and vision, which brought the sport to new heights. I would also like to thank Joe Silva for giving me the opportunity to compete among the best martial artists in the world.”

A decorated grappler who was awarded his black belt by Renzo Gracie, Almeida’s highest MMA honor came in 2003 when he defeated Nate Marquardt via guillotine choke and was crowned the middleweight King of Pancrase.

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